It's Time To Confirm Brett Kavanaugh

What is the point in having a majority if Democrats can block an appointment with evidence-free claims?

Senate Republicans should bite the bullet and move ahead with the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh.

I am very sympathetic to women who have been the subject of sexual harassment or abuse, but the accusations presented by Christine Blasey Ford and Deborah Ramirez both lack supporting evidence. In the case of Ford, the evidence was so weak that Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) sat on the accusations until a week before Kavanaugh’s scheduled confirmation vote. No corroborating evidence has been presented to back up Dr. Ford’s testimony and three people (Patrick Smyth, Mark Judge, and Leland Keyser) in addition to Judge Kavanaugh have denied the allegations.

Kavanaugh’s second accuser only came forward as Republicans were planning to move forward with Ford’s testimony. As Erick Erickson pointed out, Ramirez, who waited as long as possible to come forward, seems uncertain that it was even Kavanaugh who exposed himself to her. The New Yorker did not corroborate Ramirez’s claims with other witnesses. There seems to be some doubt that Kavanaugh was even at the party in question.

Unlike Roy Moore’s accusers, there is so far no evidence to back up the claims from either woman. Unlike Donald Trump’s Access Hollywood tape or Corey Booker’s 1992 college newspaper article, there is no tape or written mea culpa in which Kavanaugh admits to questionable behavior. Unlike Al Franken, there is no photo of Kavanaugh with his hand on an accuser’s nether regions.

It seems obvious that the allegations were brought forward by Democrats only to delay Kavanaugh’s confirmation vote. The Democrats apparently hope that they can delay the confirmation vote until after the new Congress takes office next year or at least until after the midterm elections. In that case, they could argue that the Senate should follow the example of Merrick Garland and delay the confirmation vote until the new Congress is seated.

It’s time to put up or shut up. If the Democrats cannot bring forward more substantial evidence that Brett Kavanaugh should not be confirmed then Republicans should forge ahead immediately following Dr. Ford’s testimony on Thursday. Unless Ramirez can present more evidence, the Senate should not dignify her accusation with the opportunity to testify.

The problem with forging ahead is that Republicans only have a two-vote advantage in the Senate. If Republican mavericks such as Susan Collins (Maine) or Jeff Flake (Arizona) cross the aisle then the result would be an embarrassing defeat for the GOP. Nevertheless, holding the Republican caucus together on a matter so clear-cut as the accusations against Kavanaugh would be a worthy issue for a test of Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and President Trump’s ability to lead their caucus.

Although there is potential for some political blowback from moving ahead, there is also the possibility that confirming Kavanaugh would help the Republicans in the midterms. A successful confirmation could help excite the Republican voters where a failure to confirm might depress Republican turnout. At any rate, dire midterm forecasts suggest that the GOP has little to lose with a confirmation. If Republicans cannot come together to resist the unsubstantiated smearing of political appointee like Brett Kavanaugh, there would be little point in returning their Senate majority anyway.

Comments

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No. 1-4

JASmius

Sep 25

It's really sublimely simple. Republicans can either run a 50/50 risk of losing the Senate and confirm Judge Kavanaugh (the House is gone either way) or cave on him and guarantee it in a blue tsunami of epic proportions. Seems like a pretty easy choice. One other thing: keep Trump out of this. The last thing Kavanaugh needs is a serial sexual abuser loudly defending him. And the Senate GOP caucus isn't Trump's, it's McConnell's.

Theodore12

Sep 25

Thank you Erick and the rest for standing up for Kavanaugh

Robert Moore

Sep 24

Gorsuch went through just fine. Because of Trump's sliminess, only candidates with saintly records need apply.

Or a woman.

Dropping Kavanaugh and picking a woman is the Republican's best option.

Full disclosure: I am against Kavanaugh because of his stance on presidential powers.

KWillow

Sep 24

Your first sentence -- "I am very sympathetic to women who have been the subject of sexual harassment or abuse" -- is contradicted by much of the rest that you write.

Listen to women. Understand why they are reluctant to come forward. Understand that the nature of the crime of sexual assault doesn't leave a lot of room for "corroborating evidence" like photos and audiotapes, which is one reason why women don't come forward.

Until you acknowledge that, please don't say you are "sympathetic to women who have been the subject of sexual assault". Those are empty words.